Knight work if you can get it, Schofield

THIS Morning host Phillip Schofield is returning to the stage for the first time in almost

THIS Morning host Phillip Schofield is returning to the stage for the first time in almost 15 years later this month — and he may even sing, writes Matthew Wilson.

The Fawley resident has signed up to host The Knights of Music — showcasing the work of rock, pop and stage music legends including Sir Elton John, Dame Shirley Bassey, the Lord Lloyd-Webber and Sir Tim Rice.

Other musicians honoured by the Queen whose work is set to feature include Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Bob Geldof and Sir Tom Jones.

While not yet a knight of the realm himself, Schofield, who turned 54 on Friday, has worked closely with several of those whose music will feature in the new show — most notably starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from 1993 to 1996, including a tour of the UK and Ireland.

Announcing his latest venture, Schofield said: “I’m so thrilled to be hosting Knights of Music. It promises to be a great night of music and surprises. It’s been quite a while since I’ve appeared on stage so I’m really looking forward to a great evening.”

“What happened was a mate of mine said: ‘Do you miss the theatre?’ And I do. I’ve been offered so many amazing West End shows, and I can’t do them because of the telly. So I said: ‘Yeah, I do miss it.’ And so he said: ‘Do you want to play, do you want to do something?’ And I said ‘Yeah’.

“So this show was then built — first of all in the pub and then we thought about it. We’ve got some of the best West End performers, an amazing band, great music — and we’re just doing music of the knights, so it’s all of those people who have been knighted, like Tom Jones.”

Pressed on whether he would only be hosting, he added: “I might sing. There is pressure, there is definitely pressure — because it’s Andrew Lloyd Webber and knights and dames and lords and that sort of music of all of them, we’ll obviously be doing a bit of Joseph and if the strains of Any Dream Will Do were to begin then I might not be able to resist.”

The Knights of Music runs from Wednesday, April 21, to Sunday, April 24. For more information and to book, visit www.knightsofmusic.co.uk